Water, sanitation & energy consultation: Viwandani segment 1
Where? Sinai Community Hall
When? 23.10.18
What? Water, sanitation and energy consortium consultation (Muungano alliance, Oxfam, Sanergy, Strathmore University, Nairobi Water Company,
Who? 77 resident representatives of SPA Viwandani segment 1 (villages of Paradise B, Paradise C, Paradise A, Sinai B/Kwa Reli & Sinai A); representatives from the WSE consortium; Muungano facilitators.
About the community consultations:
This note is from the first of three sets of community consultations by the water, sanitation and energy consortium of the SPA.
This first set of consultation meetings are segment-level dreaming sessions, where residents share their views and aspirations with the consortium, and where the consortium works with the community to identify issues and challenges, community priorities, and ideas for potential solutions – all relating to water, sanitation and energy.
After the first consultation meetings, the consortium will develop a draft sectoral plan for the segment – this draft sectoral plan will be derived from the dreams shared in the first set of consultation meetings and tested against the existing reality of Mukuru.
In later sets of meetings, first at segment level, the consortium will seek residents’ feedback on these draft plans, which will then be revised accordingly. And then all 8 of the SPA consortiums will together share the final integrated development plan, for adoption by Mukuru’s residents.
Brief notes on the discussion:
WSE consortium members present
Kellen Muchira, Caritas Switzerland, Program Manager
Patrick Njoroge, AMT Program Manager
Meremiya Hussein Sanergy Programs
Dennis Gichimu Sanergy Programs
Naomy Obunga Sanergy Programs
Aruna SITE Programs
Jackline Muungano Programs
WSE consortium members absent with apology
Ignatius Maranga, Strathmore University
Jack Oduor Umande Trust
James Mucheke NCWSC
Jamlick Mutie KIWASH – USAID
Alex Manyasi Sanergy
Mario Kaingi NCG
Mwaura SDI Kenya
John Owegi Oxfam International
Opening remarks
The meeting came to order at 10:30 am with an opening prayer from Christine Mwelu, one of the community mobilizer. There was an acknowledgement of the presence of community members from different villages. Patrick gave a brief explanation about the meeting, the current condition in the slum and the importance of the expected participation by the community members. Kellen from Caritas was invited to take over on water.
Discussions – Water
Kellen: If this is your first time to attend a community meeting, please raise your hand. What were you told the meeting is about? I will take about one thing, the issue on water. Before I say anything, I would like for you to talk first and tell me the challenges you experience. Everyone should participate and no opinion is unaccepted.
Jane – Sinai Original: I would like to talk about water. The vehicles that pass on the pipes cause the pipes to crack and leak. This leads to water contamination as dirt gets into the pipes. Water contamination leads to the spread of diseases. We would like to have different pipes that will not break.
Kellen: For now, let us discuss all our challenges first. We will talk about the solutions later on.
Hisen – Sinai Reli: At times water prices go so high. When we have water scarcity the prices go as high as Ksh.20 per jerrican. We would like to have water more frequently.
Kellen: Normally what is the price of water?
Community : Water is usually at ksh. 10
Priscilla – Sinai Reli: I would to state that the water we use in our village is contaminated. You will find a water pipe is leaking and the sewer pipe is also leaking and they are close to each other. We are grateful to God that we do not get sick as much but we would like to get token water. Kindly give us token water.
Ben – Sinai Original: We are facing water challenges. The water we get has its owner who benefits from it, it does not favor us. They take it where they want. Kindly, give us water.
Kellen: What is the problem with those who bring the water?
Ben – Sinai Original: When there is water shortage or when their pipes are disconnected, they take advantage to increase the prices. However, with proper piping by the county government we will not face this challenge.
Bilhah – Paradise A: I second him. The water pipes leaking in houses are still the ones going into sewers. When the water is scarce the price goes up yet the water is contaminated. The water owner also takes a whole week before fixing the leaking water pipes, which causes water contamination. If we can get properly piped water, we will be grateful.
Samuel – Sinai Original: The tanks used are dirty they are not washed. A water tank fell as they were bringing water and we saw water snails. At the same time, there are tanks in companies that are placed near walls where they are easily infiltrated by snails and other things.
Violet – Sinai Reli: The problem is with Nairobi water, because they have water cartels who operate the chambers as they please. The water is directed to those they want, while other do not access the water. Therefore, one person is able to access the chamber while the others lack water. In the end, he sells the water at a high price. This is why water is scarce at times.
Antonny: If every plot had water, we would not face these issues. When water is available, the queue is long. For those who come back late from work we cannot access water.
Kellen: How long do you take to access water, say from 11:30?
Community: About an hour to two hours when water is scarce and 5 minutes when water is plenty. In addition, we do not access water on weekends.
Mercy – Sinai Original: If they change the pipes to metallic piped water, we will not have water contamination issues. Secondly, when there is water scarcity the water we receive is not clean because the tanks are not washed.
Kellen: Kindly, someone explain to me who tampers with the water, or chambers.
Christine - Mobilizer: The chamber is where they connect the power to release the water to various water tanks. This where they switch it off so that the cartels can control the water prices.
Kennedy – Paradise A: The chambers are for Nairobi water to assist those without water. They can access it when need be. However, these days they are controlled by individuals. There are those who know each other and run that place, if you are not on their side, you will not access water.
George – Sinai Reli: The pipes that profit us with water are individual pipes. They are few, meaning most of us do not access water. The water points in this area are not enough for the population in this place.
Sam – Sinai Original: There are water buzzers that come at night. Where are those water buzzers from? Why do they come at night bringing brown salty water? They probably fetch that water from anywhere just to get money from us and most times they come at night. The problem is the water they bring, because it is dirty and salty. It would be better if it was the county delivering water to us.
Kellen: For now those who are providing the water are referred to as unregulated water service providers. It does not mean the government will take them out. Secondly, water tariffs are fixed no one should change it any day they please. The plan is looking into all these matters. We can now look at solutions, what can we do and what do you want the government to do
Joyce - Paradise A: We want token water.
Patrick: What do you understand by water token? Some please explain.
Teresia - Sinai Reli: I saw it at the Chairman’s office. People had a card they used to access the water and it only costed 50 cents. The water was available for 24 hours but it did not last a month, it burnt down. We need it back and nearer.
John - Sinai Original: They should provide a better sewer system in that when the drainage pipes are leaking they cannot contaminate the water pipes. They should be put very separate. We need engineers who know how to operate these things.
Mary - Sinai Original: We need metallic water pipes to prevent leakages.
Ben - Sinai Original: We need more water points which will make it easier for everyone to access water.
Joseph - Sinai Reli: I suggest when Nairobi water comes to check the chambers they should give the individuals selling water water purifiers to clean the water.
Kellen: Water treatment can be effective at point of use. That way, we are sure it will be of great help to all. Secondly, water buzzers have white heads and are blue on the rest of the tanker.
James: We want water supply at plot level. That way we will take less time accessing water.
Joyce - Paradise A: We want the water system in Mathare. Water is plenty and available at Ksh. 1.
Patrick: How will you manage the facilities once they have been provided.
Rose - Paradise C: Those in the supply business should be the ones involved in the management of water pipes
Sanitation
Dennis: You are the ones representing the community, what sanitation challenges do you experience here.
Kennedy - Paradise A: We do face cross contamination when the sewage water mixes with the clean water.
Bilha – Paradise A: Our water is very dirty, causing illnesses like Cholera. The leaking pipes pass on drainage system. At the same time those who have pit latrine toilets have their men remove waste using wheelbarrows which spill it all over.
George - Sinai Reli: We experience water scarcity because of leakages and the water mixes with sewer water. Secondly, because accessing the toilet is expensive at times one has to persevere and only use the toilet once a day to save money for the family. Fresh Life should also bring their toilets; they will be of great help.
Samuel - Paradise B: Many plots do not have toilets. The others are closed at 10 pm, after that one cannot access the toilet. Because of insecurity, people end up using flying toilets.
James - Sinai Original: There are illegal connections where people sell water they have re-routed to their tanks. The water is not clean. We would prefer having piped water for each set of plots. We spend too much time and money purifying our water. The water stays for too long in the tanks, at times when using the water at home I notice it is smelling.
Teresa - Sinai Reli: We do not have enough toilets; we need Fresh Life toilets. Secondly, the toilets do not have big pipes causing the waste to spill out.
Violet - Sinai Reli: We have insufficient toilet facilities.
Martha - Sinai Original: We need Fresh Life toilets, but we will appreciate the reduction of money spent accessing the toilets. Secondly, houses are squeezed preventing any addition of toilets.The only way for us to achieve so much is by uniting. We need to stand together and cooperate.
Elizabeth - Sinai Reli: First, the toilets available are closed as early as 6:00 pm; we cannot access them at night. Secondly, we have a big problem with flying toilets; they make the environment dirty and smelly. Lastly, we do not have the money to do what is needed.
Jacinta - Sinai Reli: Lack of proper sanitation has promoted the spread of cholera, which has resulted in the loss of lives, and spreading too much money on medication.
Catherine: Fresh Life toilets are few and far. We need more. That will help us security wise at night.
Mfalme Ali: Those without toilets in the plots face problems. Structure owners should ensure their plots have toilets.
Reuben - Paradise A: We are overpopulated and the drainage system in place was designed for a smaller population. We need a better planning system. Otherwise, we will never stop contracting diseases.
Jackline - Paradise B: Our children get sick because they play in a dirty environment.
Raphael -Paradise C: The tissue is so little.What is the difference between the tissue given by Fresh life and the other toilets. We need more tissues because even those using water for sanitation still contaminate the water in the drums.
Dennis: We can now move to solutions.
Malaika - Paradise C: It is important to have soap when washing hands after using Fresh Life. Some Fresh Life toilets do not offer soap.
Rose - Paradise C: Fresh Life has no ventilation and stinks. It is uncomfortable.
Peninah - Sinai Original: Fresh Life toilets change color. The tiles change from white to brown.
George - Sinai Reli: Awareness should be done to educate people on the importance of proper sanitation and garbage disposal.
Francis - Paradise B: Every plot should have a toilet that runs for 24 hours. In addition, money for maintenance should be contributed and deducted from the rent.
Mary: Water and garbage mix resulting in a very dirty environment. The odour makes us uncomfortable in our houses. They should provide a damping site.
Christine - Mobilizer: Every plot should have a toilet. Secondly, we need sewer lines to enable structure owners to connect.
Raphael – Sinai Reli: We need to implement rules that govern us. Let us use common sense. if anyone is caught spilling waste in the wrong place, action should be taken.
Agnes: There was land provided just for toilets. Every plot owner should have a toilet and give the keys to his tenants. This will ensure the cleanliness of the toilets.
Energy
Patrick briefly spoke of energy. What energy source do you use?
The Community: Sambaza. However, we would like token considering sambaza is risky though it is cheap.
Patrick: If every facility is put in place, I think we will be able to afford token. What do you think?
The Community: Yes, we will be able to afford. Stove, gas, coil, charcoal
Patrick: How many of you use coil, stove, gas or charcoal?
The Community: Most use stove and charcoal, followed by a few using gas and coil. They requested for gas.
AOB
Pastor: Let us nominate someone for the next consortium.
End Meeting
There being no other agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. with a closing prayer from Mwas.